Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Declares Tehran Has 'No Trust' in U.S. Diplomacy

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran no longer trusts negotiations with Washington, as U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly rejected a proposed seven-day roadmap to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera during his trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Pezeshkian expressed deep skepticism regarding future diplomatic understandings. Through mediators Qatar and Pakistan, Tehran had proposed a plan to end fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, waive oil sanctions, release $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and observe a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon and Yemen.

While Araghchi outlined a timeline for phased implementation leading to nuclear talks on the seventh day, unnamed U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the initiative. Pezeshkian questioned the value of direct talks, recalling that previous agreements were unimplemented by Washington.

Addressing the Strait of Hormuz, Pezeshkian defended the closure as a natural consequence of restricted routes against Iran, asserting that the waterway would reopen through negotiations rather than force. He also blamed the U.S. and Israel for initiating the conflict and criticized ongoing sanctions, comparing their humanitarian impact to the situation in Gaza.

Pezeshkian further emphasized regional security independence, suggesting that countries like Saudi Arabia could foster unity and stating that the region does not need outside intervention or a regional policeman. He clarified that Houthi actions in Yemen are independent of Iran and offered assistance in resolving tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

On the domestic front, Pezeshkian dismissed claims of internal discord, highlighting unprecedented unity and cohesion within Iran's leadership following meetings with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.